Dagestani Fighter Abandons Russia’s “Akhmat-Kavkaz” Unit and Surrenders in Ukraine

A servicemember of Russia’s 270th Motor Rifle Regiment “Akhmat-Kavkaz” surrendered to Ukrainian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region after approaching the frontline unarmed and under the supervision of a Ukrainian drone, according to the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade on November 25.

The brigade reported that the fighter, identified as Artur, voluntarily walked toward Ukrainian positions along a railway line with his hands raised. Personnel monitored his movement using an aerial drone until he reached Ukrainian troops safely.

According to the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Artur previously served in the 270th Motor Rifle Regiment “Akhmat-Kavkaz,” a unit formed in Chechnya and incorporated into Russia’s 42nd Motor Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army.

Artur told Ukrainian servicemembers that he had been detained in Dagestan for minor drug use and was offered a military contract instead of criminal charges. He stated that local law enforcement “receive 400,000 rubles (approximately $4,500) for every person they bring into the unit,” adding: “He sold me there. They placed me on a one-year contract.”

Artur said he was promised a driver’s position but was later transferred to a reconnaissance element that also participated in assault operations. He noted that most frontline troops deployed in these attacks were Russians and Dagestanis.

According to him, Chechen servicemen linked to Ramzan Kadyrov’s forces were not present in the assault groups and remained in rear areas.

This experience, he said, led him to discard his weapon and seek an opportunity to surrender. Footage released by the brigade shows him moving along the railway toward Ukrainian positions with the drone overhead.

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The 270th Motor Rifle Regiment “Akhmat-Kavkaz” has been active in offensive actions in the Zaporizhzhia sector as part of Russia’s 58th Combined Arms Army. The regiment is one of several formations created in Chechnya and deployed along the southern front.

Earlier, Ukraine’s 3rd Special Operations Regiment conducted a precision raid near Pokrovsk, eliminating two Russian soldiers and capturing another, while extracting wounded Ukrainian infantry using a robotic evacuation system, according to official footage released by the SSO.

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